Seeing Is Believing, But Winning Must Happen Now For Jaguars In 2017
By Billy Long
The Jacksonville Jaguars are desperately attempting to change a culture of losing within the organization. In 2017, the team has accumulated enough talent that excuses for not producing wins are running thin.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have not won more than five games in a season since 2010. Losing hasn’t just been the main thing in Jacksonville in recent years, it’s been the only thing. The team is doing all it can to put the pieces together to create a winning franchise, and has actually done a adequate job at assembly a talented roster. Translating that to wins must begin now in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars made beneficial moves this offseason with free agency and the draft, but Jacksonville has been viewed as big offseason winners in consecutive years. Last year it was bringing in Malik Jackson and Chris Ivory, and drafting Jalen Ramsey. This year it was the acquisitions of Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, and drafting Leonard Fournette. But can the Jaguars actually start to turn the moves they are making into wins is the question that needs answering.
Jacksonville has playmakers all across the board, but they must find a way to combat their talent with obtaining the killer instinct for closing games out and stockpiling wins. A depleted roster is no longer an issue for the Jaguars. Winning games must become customary, and a higher degree of success must be demonstrated in 2017.
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The team has secured their faith in Blake Bortles, and the team will go as he does. The pieces are in place around the fourth-year quarterback on offense to make a leap forward. Leonard Fournette is a powerful back who will take some of the pressure off of Bortles while also creating a formidable running back duo with Chris Ivory. The Jaguars also beefed up the offensive line by selecting Cam Robinson in the second round of the draft. Pair that with returning contributors like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee, and the offense has a chance to be really productive.
The defensive is the anchor of the Jaguars, and will be even stronger this season. Jalen Ramsey and A.J Bouye provide a lock down tandem at the cornerback position, and the defensive line is deep with guys like Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell ready to disrupt offenses.
In the end it’s ultimately up to Blake Bortles to dictate the success of the offense, and the team overall. If Bortles can improve his decision making and limit his mistakes, the Jaguars can make noise in 2017.
The front office did make the decision to put all their eggs in his basket and ride with him again as the lead guy though, so failure at the position, should it occur, cannot be used as a crutch for another disappointing season.
Experts are on both sides of the spectrum when it comes to predicting the season the Jaguars will have. Some experts think the team will finally tap into their potential and take a huge step forward, while others remain skeptical.
What is clear is that the time is now for the Jaguars to begin to turn the tide. For a team unaccustomed to success and needing to learn how to win games, a dramatic turnaround overnight should not be expected. Seeking 10 wins this season is asking a lot. Having said that though, things are finally set up in Jacksonville for wins to happen, and reasons for not being able to battle for a winning record are fading fast.